History 1930-1939  Back 

 

1931

 

The church council met in the vestry on 27th April 1931.  The Chaplain, the Reverend Theodore Lunt was in the chair.  Council members included Captain Frederick, R.N., Sir Henry Hawkes and Sir John Donald.  Lt Col Logan submitted his resignation from the post of “Honorary Secretary”.  Funds in hand amounted to FF5,700.  An estimate for planning and cleaning the old parquet flooring to make it correspond with the new at a cost of FF850 was approved.

 

In November two big issues were on the agenda – could the church afford a chaplain for the coming season?, and the widening of the road by the church.

 

The issue of whether the church could afford a Chaplain for the coming season was put to a General Meeting, which was held on the 30th November, 29 persons being present.  The treasurer went through the costings – FF700 to maintain the church, FF250 per week stipend for the Chaplain, and sundry expenses, including 2nd class Railway Fare from England and back.  The Hermitage Hotel generously offered to put up a Chaplain free of charge, which would save the church finding a further FF300 per week.  This meant that the church would have to raise at least FF500 per week .

 

After a brief discussion it was agreed unanimously that the meeting was in favour of appointing a Chaplain, and the S.P.G. should be contacted immediately to send out the Chaplain they had identified.  (Rev Francis H.G. Knight)

 

On the road widening, the church had to loose part of its garden.  In return, the mairie had agreed to undertake the rebuilding of the wall and fencing on the new boundary and the building of a new footpath alongside the church with steps to the main entrance.

 

1932

 

A General Meeting was held on the 13th January, chaired by the new Chaplain, and he nominated Captain Frederick, RN, as his warden.  At the end of the season it was decided to leave the chairs in place ready for any services that might be held by a clergyman staying in St. Raphaël during the summer!  In September during a heavy storm, the drains of the church proved inadequate to handle the water, and it proved necessary to install new drainage at a cost of FF1855.  The Church Council tried unsuccessfully to get the S.P.G. to assist with this expense.  At the end of the season, church funds stood at about F4,000, held in the Anglo American bank of W.F. King. 

 

1933

 

The Rev. Francis H.G. Knight returned for another season, with his wife.  In view of the financial situation, the following appeal was put before the congregation:

 

In order for the congregation to understand how the funds of the church were spent, it was agreed to post the accounts on the notice board at the church door.

 

In March the council received notification that the new Bishop would be visiting St. Raphaël.  It was agreed to arrange tea with the Bishop, at FF6 per head in the Hotel Beau Rivage. 

 

The appeal letter proved successful, and at the end of the year there was just under FF7,000 in church funds.

 

1934

 

Rev Francis HG Knight again returned.  The season started off well until disaster struck on the 31st January, when the bank of W.F. King “Closed its Doors”.  The church at that date had a holding of FF7,171 with the bank, leaving a mere FF97 cash in hand.  With the appointment of liquidators, it was not clear how much of this deposit would be repaid, and when.  It was decided to put the matter to the congregation after the service to see how the church could remain viable.  Amazingly, this appeal seems to have raised over FF12,000 by the end of February!

 

Donations of FF600 to the Poor of St. Raphaël and 880 to the Mediterranean Mission to Seaman were made.

 

A communication was received from Lord Ascombe suggesting that as the Chaplain for Valescure for the next season would not be arriving until Christmas, perhaps the Chaplain at St. Raphaël may be able to take services in All Saints, Valescure during December.  The council declined this proposal and suggested that the congregation of All Saints could come down to St. John’s.

 

When the English fleet was at St. Raphaël, the Chaplain of the 3rd destroyer flotilla, the Rev Charles Paton, visit the church and admired the cross on the credence table.  He said that if it could be spared it would be of great use in their little chapel in Malta.  After some discussion, during which it transpired that nobody on the council knew where the cross had come from anyway, it was agreed that with the approval of the Bishop it would be presented to Rev. Paton for the chapel in Malta.  However, the Bishop felt it would be creating a bad precedent to give away ornaments belonging to the church, and permission was refused.

 

By the end of the year the liquidators of W.F. King were in a position to repay 10% of the sum owing, and the church had a balance of FF2,900.

 

1935

 

The Rev C Lister James was appointed chaplain for the season, and remained until the Easter.  In the summer there was a visit from the 1st destroyer flotilla, and a service was held in the church for the officers and crew, with their chaplain, rev Ronald Collinson, RN, presiding.

 

However, church funds stood at just FF917 plus £66, which was just about sufficient to cove the tax bills in the autumn.  At the end of the year the church council met several times to discuss whether they could foresee the church opening in 1936.  A proposal was made to All Saints Valescure that perhaps a joint chaplain could be afforded, but this proposal was turned down.  At the end of the year it was reluctantly concluded that the declining number of residents and unlikelihood of winter visitors meant that it would not be feasible to open the church, and the S.P.G. were notified accordingly.

 

1936

 

The church did not open for the season, and by the summer funds stood at FF277 and £61.  FF2868 was still owed by the W.F. King liquidators, payable in 4 equal annual payments.   However, the 1935 payment was still outstanding, and it was decided to accept an offer of 40% in final settlement, from a third party.

 

Needless to say, a letter of complaint had come pouring in from a winter visitor who had arrived to find the church closed.  The council felt that the very few visitors who did arrive would have been quite capable of getting to All Saints Valescure if they had so wished.